Disney Honors Chilean Miners With Parade

Thirty-one out of thirty-three Chilean miners who drew world acclaim for their resilience and unflagging hope while trapped for more than two months in a collapsed cooper mine got a rare treat on Monday. They met Mickey. And Minnie, and Donald Duck and the other world-famous Disney characters.

The miners were guests of honor at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.

The miners rode in antique buses and fire engines --festooned with red, white and blue balloons –the color of both the U.S. and Chilean flags— and otherwise lived-out childhood fantasies.

“This is a dream. I felt like a kid. I enjoyed all the rides and games,” said miner Juan Carlos Aguilar to The Associated Press.

Jorge Galleguillos agreed. “It is a gift. I never dreamt I would be in Disney,” he said after the miners were acclaimed with applause during a parade. “It is a gift from God.”

31 out of 33 Chilean miners are vacationing with their families in Walt Disney World. Four rescuers are also being honored.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.